Advocates to Southwest Airlines: Drop SeaWorld

Published 3:23 pm, Monday, January 6, 2014

SAN ANTONIO — Animal advocates boosted by a recent documentary are expanding their fight against SeaWorld to the amusement park's partners.

More than 27,000 people are calling on Southwest Airlines to end its 25-year partnership with SeaWorld in a petition created on Change.Org. Advocates will deliver the petition and gather for a silent protest at Dallas Love Field Airport on Wednesday.

Southwest Airlines and SeaWorld offer vacation packages and discounts, and the airlines company has a fleet of SeaWorld-themed aircraft.

Backlash against SeaWorld began pouring after the CNN-produced documentary “Blackfish”, which questions the treatment of whales and trainers by the worldwide amusement park, was released early in 2013.

The pushback was prevalent on social media sites and caused at least eight musical acts, including Willie Nelson and Heart, to cancel performances at SeaWorld locations. Petitions for the bands to cancel their performances were started on Change.org, as well.

A spokesman at SeaWorld San Antonio directed the Express-News to a corporate spokesman who has not responded to a request for comment.